Dr. Patricia Bayhnam
Office: JBWN 117
Telephone: (512)233-1675
E-mail: patricib@stedwards.edu

Education

• Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC)
• BS Biology, Presbyterian College (Clinton, SC)

Research Interests

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some other common soil bacteria utilize a flagella-independent mode of movement called twitching motility (also called gliding motility). It is thought that the basis of this movement is the extension and retraction of these pili. Twitching motility may be assayed by stab-inoculation of an agar plate and then observation of spreading growth of the bacteria at the plate-agar interface. Dr. Cynthia Whitchurch, a collaborator on this project, has performed video microscopy of P. aeruginosa twitching motility. This may be viewed at http://www.cmcb.uq.edu.au/cmcb/PUBS/twitch.html. Twitching motility is highly complex and involves dozens of genes at different chromosomal loci. Although many genes required for twitching have been identified, an understanding of the mechanism and regulation of twitching motility is elusive. A gene first identified as a regulator required for alginate production, algZ , is required for twitching motility. algZ encodes a ribbon-helix-helix DNA binding protein that was first identified and cloned by the Dr. Baynham. The deletion of algZ in an environmental P. aeruginosa isolate results in a loss of twitching motility. The goal of this project is to define the role of algZ in twitching motility. Undergraduate students are involved in all aspects of these studies. This will not only increase current knowledge regarding the coordinate regulation of alginate production and twitching motility, but also the ways to better use and control environmental bacteria with regard to bioremediation.

The National Science Foundation is supporting this research. For additional information:
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0443186

Teaching Interests

I teach Microbiology with a laboratory (for Biology Majors), Freshman Biology, and Contemporary Biology (Biol 1305, a course in microbiology for non-science majors). I also teach Research Methods, a science reading, writing, and presentation class. In addition I am actively recruiting students to take part in Undergraduate Research.

Publications

Wozniak, D. J., A. B. Sprinkle, and Patricia J. Baynham (2003). Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa algZ expression by the alternative sigma factor AlgT. Journal of Bacteriology, 185: 7297-7300 .

Baynham, P.J., A. L. Brown, L. L. Hall *, and D.J. Wozniak (1999 ). Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZ, a ribbon-helix-helix DNA binding protein, is essential for alginate synthesis and algD transcriptional activation. Molecular Microbiology 33: 1069-1080.

Baynham, P.J. and D.J. Wozniak (1996). Identification and characterization of AlgZ, an AlgT-dependent DNA-binding protein required for Pseudomonas aeruginosa algD transcription. Molecular Microbiology 22: 97-108.

Miles, L.A., G.M. Fless, A.M. Scanu, P. Baynham, M.T. Sebald, P. Skocir, L.K. Curtiss, E.G. Levin, J.L. Hoover-Plow, and E.F. Plow (1995). Interaction of Lp(a) with plasminogen binding sites on cells. Thrombosis & Haemostasis. 73: 458-65.

Levin, E.G., L.A. Miles, G.M. Fless, A.M. Scanu, P. Baynham, L.K. Curtiss, and E.F. Plow (1994). Lipoproteins inhibit the secretion of tissue plasminogen activator from human endothelial cells. Arteriosclerosis & Thrombosis. 14: 438-42.

Santell, L., K. Marotti, N.S. Bartfeld, P. Baynham, and E.G. Levin (1992). Disruption of microtubules inhibits the stimulation of tissue plasminogen activator expression and promotes plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression in human endothelial cells. Experimental Cell Research 201: 358-65.

Other

Link to discussion for Microbiology Student Web Pages
(Open November 1-15, 2004):
http://blackboard.stedwards.edu/

Undergraduates May Complete Research at SEU or Pursue Other Amazing Research Opportunities:

Department of Microbiology at the University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
http://www.uga.edu/mib/research/undergrad.htm

Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC):

Summer Research Opportunities in Biomedical Research
http://www.wfubmc.edu/graduate/SROPflyer2004.pdf

Summer Program for Minorities in Hypertension and Vascular Disease
http://www.wfubmc.edu/hypertension/scvp.shtml

In Paris, France at the Institut Pasteur:
http://www.pasteurfoundation.org/doc/PasteurZuccApplication.doc